BEREA, Ohio—The Browns need to start getting the jolt they anticipated when they spent a No. 3 overall draft pick on Trent Richardson, who is scoring touchdowns—he has four—but isn’t moving the chains.

Missing the preseason because of a knee scope procedure hasn’t stopped the compact running back from getting a workhorse load. Only 14 backs have more than his 64 carries. He ranks just 20th in yards with 222, and his 3.5 per-carry average is near the bottom among the league’s feature backs.

The Cleveland Browns were hoping for more production early in the season out of rookie running back Trent Richardson. (AP Photo)

The 5-foot-9, 230-pounder has had some success when he finds wide-open spaces and can set up downfield or perimeter defenses with jukes and bursts. His production between the tackles, though, has been a big disappointment.

In part, the interior blocking isn’t opening big holes. In part, Richardson isn’t breaking tackles. As he moves away from his knee issues and gets the hang of NFL game speed, he must be more effective at shedding arm tackles as he slides through small creases and bursts into the second level.

It will help if second-round pick Mitchell Schwartz, the right tackle, gains confidence in his run blocking. The jury is out on Richardson cracking 1,000 yards.

This much is certain: He will keep getting the rock.

NOTE: Cornerback Joe Haden’s four-game suspension has been a worst-case scenario, with weaknesses in the secondary emerging as big factors in close losses. Haden is out for one more game. It will be a double whammy against the Giants ON Sunday if Haden’s sidekick, strong safety T.J. Ward, can’t play or is limited. Ward might play with a playing cast on his surgically repaired left thumb, but he will be feeling his way through. Undersized veteran Ray Ventrone, the backup, can be exploited by big tight ends.